Specific Programme "Capacities": Support to the coherent development of research policies SUPPORT TO THE COHERENT DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH POLICIES Europe needs to improve the coherence of research policies at the regional, national andEuropean level and increase its potential in the production and use of knowledge in order tobecome more competitive and provide solutions to some of the challenges it faces today.What's the benefit for citizens:Public investment in research will become more cost effective through better monitoring andcoordination of research policy across Europe. It is envisaged that better collaboration betweenpolicy makers across national, regional and European levels will lead to identification of goodpractices and better policy development. This would improve the conditions for conductingresearch and ultimately improve Europe's potential in creating jobs and growth. It will alsoprovide a better assessment of the impact of public expenditure in research on leveraging privateinvestment and on competitiveness.What's the benefit for researchers:Actions are mainly targeting policy makers but will ultimately improve conditions for conductingresearch. One specific action will further develop the European strategy for human resourcesand mobility in research through a number of regional, national and Community policy initiativessuch as funding of programmes, legislation, recommendations and guidelines. The commonobjective of these initiatives is to stimulate researchers to stay in Europe and attract the bestbrains from all over the world.The following activities will be supported during FP7:• Monitoring, analysis and impact assessment of public research policies andindustrial strategies. The development of indicators will provide information andevidence in the design, implementation and evaluation in the trans-nationalcoordination of policies.• Strengthening, on a voluntary basis, the coordination of research policies in atwofold manner: first, through actions supporting the implementation of the openmethod of co-ordination (OMC) and second, through bottom-up trans-nationalcooperation initiatives undertaken at national or regional level on issues ofcommon interest.What's the benefit for industry and SMEs:Increasing investment in research and development to reach 3% of the GDP in the EU by 2010,out of which 2/3 should come from private sources and improving its effectiveness, is a toppriority of the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs.Therefore, it is essential to strengthen public support for research and its leverage effect oninvestment by private actors. In addition the identification of the most suitable measures toencourage research and development investment in SMEs, particularly those with a high growthpotential, will contribute towards a higher investment in research.